A WELCOME BACK FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT

Click on the video to view a message from Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. 

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A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

Classrooms all across the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools district buzzed with excitement, as students returned August 26.
Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson visited several schools on the first day, and said he was pleased overall with the first day of school, especially given the many new initiatives that impacted this year’s opening. "I must thank our parents and family members for the role they played in making our opening of school a successful one." Jackson said. "We have a number of new initiatives that we are in the process of implementing: PowerSchool, our new school security access control, and the reassignment of over 2000 students. Our families continue to be patient as we work through these processes and we appreciate their support." 
Jackson also expressed his appreciation for school staff members who went above and beyond to make sure students were able to jump right into learning. “While we experienced the normal 'first day' transitions, our administrators, educators and other staff took deliberate care to ensure that we were ready to start the year off with excellence.” Jackson said. “Our students arrived eager to start a great year, and our staff members welcomed them with enthusiasm and compassion. Our theme for the year is 'No Limits...Possibilities 2.0,' and the learning I saw as I visited classrooms throughout the first day was only a glimpse of great things to come." 
Some students and parents experienced bus delays during morning and afternoon routes, but all students arrived to and from their destinations safely. Over 10,000 students were transported on 153 buses, with a high percentage of the buses providing routes for more than one school.
Transportation director Binford Sloan said bus drivers and other staff at the schools took great care to ensure that all students were on the correct bus, and dropped off at the correct bus stop during the afternoon routes. “We had some bus delays, but the transportation team and school staff worked together to address them.” Sloan said. “It will take a few days for our bus routes to be complete, but they are being constantly monitored and changed as new students are enrolled or existing students are registering for bus service.”
Parents can go to www.nrms.k12.nc.us, where they can access the school system’s online transportation portal.

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THE EXCITEMENT BEGINS...STUDENTS RETURN

After a summer away, the students of NRMPS came back to school on August 26th. Click on the video below to get a quick view of what the first day of school was like for students from elementary to high school. At NRMPS the first day of school is the first day of new learning.

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STUDENT ENJOYS SPECIAL FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BUS RIDE

When Winstead Avenue Elementary kindergarten student Bria Hines prepared to board bus 144 for the first time Monday, she was excited to see a special guest come off the bus to greet her. “Good Morning!” was the chorus of words she heard, spoken by none other than Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. As Jackson talked with her and other students about the new school year, Hines shared that she was excited to go to school. "I’m going to learn to read this year!” she said.  Hines’ mother, Pamela Ward, was equally enthused about the special bus visit from the Superintendent. After helping Bria get on the bus with Dr. Jackson and the other students, she and Bria’s grandmother, Janie, drove to the school to also walk Bria to her classroom.

"Entering kindergarten is a very important and memorable moment in a parent and child's life,” said Ward. “Along with shedding a few tears, I am very excited and happy that Bria will continue to learn and grow at Winstead Avenue Elementary School."

The first day bus ride is a tradition for Dr. Jackson, a perfect way to celebrate the opening of school and the efforts of the NRMPS transportation department to safely transport students to and from school. Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools operates 153 buses every day, serving over 10,000 students each morning and afternoon of the school year.

Tracy Cooper, who drives bus 144, provided Jackson with an overview of her morning and afternoon bus routes, which serve Rocky Mount High School, Winstead Avenue Elementary and Englewood Elementary. Cooper has served as a bus driver for nearly 17 years. “My day starts at 4:30 in the morning,” said Cooper.  Jackson says he appreciates all of the time spent by the transportation staff to prepare safe and efficient routes for students. “I am so proud of our transportation department, all of our bus drivers, technicians and other staff who work tirelessly to ensure that our students arrive safely to school,” said Jackson. “These men and women make an intentional, daily commitment to the education of students in this school system, and we cannot thank them enough for the service they provide.”

NRMPS Transportation Director Binford Sloan says the bus drivers and transportation staff recognize the magnitude of maintaining safe bus routes every day. “For each student that rides a school bus, his or her learning day starts and ends with that ride, every day,” Sloan said. “We view ourselves as a child-centered department, with a major role in the cycle of learning.”

Parents are encouraged to access bus routing information online, by visiting the Nash-Rocky Mount Public schools website: www.nrms.k12.nc.us. The Transportation department can also be reached by phone at 252.462.2481 or 252.462.2482

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NRMPS NAMES 2013-14 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

Each year, the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year celebration is marked by special moments. Tuesday night proved no exception, as nearly 130 individuals gathered at the Rose Hill Conference Center at Nathan Hall to learn the names of the newest honorees. Dana Williamson, of Southern Nash Middle School was the named the 2013-14 NRMPS Teacher of the Year, and Gary Mayor, Principal of Parker Middle School, was named the 2013-14 Principal of the Year. Williamson walked away from the ceremony with a one-year lease on a brand new, fully loaded 2014 Honda CR-V LX vehicle, courtesy of Davenport Honda and NRMPS. The 2014 Honda CR-V LX, came fully-equipped with plenty of high-tech features, such as Bluetooth, Pandora, a back-up camera, a 160 watt sound system, text messaging, and audio streaming. The economical crossover vehicle gets 31 MPG highway.
Highlights from the evening included performances by the jazz band from Nash Central High School, remarks from former Teacher of the Year Kristen Tedford, and remarks from former Principal of the Year Leon Farrow. Community partners Hospira, Wells Fargo Bank, and Davenport Autopark also made presentations during the ceremony.

Williamson has 27 years of teaching experience and received her Bachelor’s degree in middle school education from the Barton College. She’s a member of several organizations including the NC Association for the Gifted and Talented, the NC Middle School Association, and the NC Science Teachers Association. During her career she’s taught a variety of grade levels across the elementary and middle levels. She currently serves as an AIG facilitator at Southern Nash Middle School.
“It’s a true honor to represent educators throughout the district because I know that each one of us goes in every day to help every child reach their full potential and explore all the possibilities,” said Williamson.
2013-14 Principal of the Year Gary Major was equally excited to have received his award.
“I am truly humbled to be named principal of the year for Nash Rocky Public Schools,” said Major. My fellow principals and I are part of an equation that is responsible for the growth and success of our students, and we do so with a tireless commitment to achieve excellence for our schools.”
The other two finalists for 2013-14 Teacher of the Year were Tremayne Smith, the high school Teacher of the Year for NRMPS, and Theresa Whitley, the elementary school Teacher of the Year for NRMPS.
Smith has two teachings years of teaching experience. He received his Bachelor’s degree in music, and in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law Studies. He is a member of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, Eastern District, North Carolina Showstyle Band Directors Association, North Carolina Association of Music Educators, National Association for Music Educators, among others. Smith is the band director at Rocky Mount High School.
Whitley has over 10 years of teaching experience. She received her Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University in psychology and earned her teaching certification from East Carolina University. She just recently completed her Master’s degree in School Administration from Gardner Webb University. Whitley is a member of several organizations including Eastern Star, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Volunteer Frederick Douglass Alumni Association and the Psi Chi National Honor Society. She currently teaches English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies for students in grades 3-5 at D.S. Johnson Elementary.
Each of the ‘Teacher of the Year’ finalists received the prestigious Ben Craig Award from Tem Meyers, Market President of Wells Fargo Bank. This includes a hand-carved crystal apple and a $1,000 award from Wells Fargo for use in their classrooms. The finalists also received a personal laptop courtesy of Hospira Corporation, presented by Bob Jenkins, IT manager and school board member.
As Principal of the Year, Major received a $500 gift, along with a personal laptop from Hospira. The other two finalists for the Principal of the Year title were Dr. Mark Cockrell, principal of Southern Nash High School, and Carina Bryant, principal of Southern Nash Middle School.
Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson thanked the educators for their daily sacrifices for students. “We set the golden standard, as schools who embrace ALL students, regardless of how they come to us, and we seek to lead by example, as we model the skills that they need to be successful as adults,” said Jackson. “I want to thank you for the diligent work you do every day in our schools. Over the course of your career, you have continued to touch the lives of countless students.” Names and photographs of the NRMPS Principal and Teacher of the Year will be added to the NRMPS Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year plaques located at the school system’s administrative offices. These individuals will also be recognized on a billboard located on Hwy 301, courtesy of Lamar Advertising.
Congratulations to the 2013-14 Teachers of the Year for NRMPS:
Bailey Elementary - Emily Wood
S.C. Baskerville Elementary - Corine McCann-Moody
Benvenue Elementary - Courtney Bissette
Cedar Grove Elementary - Rachel Shell
Coopers Elementary - Chanda Underwood
Englewood Elementary - Amy Quigley
Fairview Elementary - Robin Silver
M. B. Hubbard Elementary - Hernan Daza
D. S. Johnson Elementary- Theresa Whitley
Middlesex Elementary - Meri Jolin
Nashville Elementary - Tressa Bissette
O.R. Pope Elementary - Letha Pearce
Red Oak Elementary - Connie Mitchell
Spring Hope Elementary - Wende Woodard
Swift Creek Elementary - Russell Howald
Williford Elementary - Dollie Borum
Winstead Avenue Elementary - Teresa Pilgreen
Edwards Middle - Percell Kelley
Nash Central Middle - Edwin Suitter II
Parker Middle - Charlene Outland
Red Oak Middle - Bettie Lewis
Southern Nash Middle - Dana Williamson
Nash Central High - Catherine Melle
NRM Early College High - Edward Lyons
Northern Nash High - Thomas Barkalow
Rocky Mount High - Tremayne Smith
Southern Nash High - Ann-Marie Brown
Tar River Academy - Ernest Postell

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UNITED WAY...THE NRMPS WAY!

With a new school year, comes a new opportunity to give to those in need by donating to United Way.  This year, the district's goal is 100% participation and $66,000.
For those who are new to the district, this annual giving event raises funds that stay right here in our community.  As you look around your school, classroom or office, chances are good that someone you see has availed themselves of the services provided by United Way. Each year more than 85,000 lives are touched through United Way Tar River Region and its funded programs.
Remember every little bit helps, so if you think the two dollars in your pocket won't do any good, think again.  When your donation is added to someone else's gift, the money starts to grow.  If we all work together, we can make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Please go by and see your United Way Campaign Coordinator today to get your information packet and pledge card.  Not certain who your coordinator is?  Look at the list below.  

Bailey Elementary - Jessica Nicholson and Lisa Hendricks
Baskerville Elementary - Shawnita Harper
Benvenue Elementary  - Lori Mizelle and Elizabeth Murphy
Cedar Grove Elementary - Rebecca M. Davis
Coopers Elementary - Mary Beth Drumel
D.S. Johnson Elementary - Sonya Lynch
Edwards Middle - Lawanda Tillery
Englewood Eelementary - Beverly Williams and Connie Honeycutt
Fairview Elementary - Teresa Wilkins
MB Hubbard Elementary - Nicole Revis and Patricia Brake
Middlesex Elementary - Bobbi Jo Bone
Nash Central High - Elisabeth McIntyre
Nash Central Middle  -  Judith James
Nashville Elementary - Leslie Taylor and Paula Bowlin
Northern Nash High - Susan Mizelle and Jackie Pridgen
NRM Early College High - Christine Catalano
O.R. Pope Elementary - Roslyn Coley
Parker Middle - Glynis Pajaro
Red Oak Elementary - Pam Cooper-Hilliard
Red Oak Middle - Cindy Williams
Rocky Mount Middle - Tekelya Jones
Rocky Mount High - Donacine Vandelli
Southern Nash High - Hugh Scott
Southern Nash Middle - Samantha Brigotti and Anthony Harrison
Spring Hope Elementary - Kasey Moore
Swift Creek Elementary - Shonda Lockett
Tar River Academy - Shira Parrish
Williford Elementary - Brenda Collins
Winstead Avenue Elementary - Stephanie Logan
UNITED WAY...THE NRMPS WAY!

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ASK THE SUPT TAKES ON NEW LOOK, NEW FORMAT WITH STUDENTS AT THE HELM

Journalism students from Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High manned cameras, ran the stopwatch and hosted the first of four episodes of NRMPS-TVs newly revamped Ask The Supt.  The current format is a question and answer talk show with the students generating the questions and then writing the script.  For the pilot episode, Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent NRMPS was the guest and eagerly answered the students' questions.
When asked what they thought about being a part of the inaugural episode, the students agreed it was an interesting experience. "I really enjoyed it! I love pointing cameras at people and making something other people will enjoy," said 11th grader Fallon Kehoe.  Super Senior Ian Duke, the Floor Director for the episode, thought "it was interesting and fun learning the signals and getting to meet him (Dr. Jackson)."
Currently the hosting/camera/floor duties rotate monthly between two schools, NRM ECHS and Red Oak Middle School.  In October ROMS will film their first episode with Dr. Eric Cunningham, Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Operations.
Don't miss it! 

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BUSES WIRED WITH NEW TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

The 153 Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools buses that transport over 10,200 students to and from school every day, will soon be equipped with a new two-way radio system designed to improve communication and bus safety. The installation of the new Motorola Moto Turbo system on each bus is expected to be complete by mid-October.
Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Operations Dr. Eric Cunningham said the two-way radio system will serve as a model for other systems that the school district plans to install later down the road. “We are really impressed with this system and the capabilities it provides.” Cunningham said. “Use of this system on our buses is foundational, but it can be expanded for additional layers of communication based on our needs. While we can’t predict what all of our future needs will be, this system is a proactive measure and it will not be impacted by outside factors.”
Using the two-way radio system, the NRMPS Transportation department can communicate directly with the 153 total buses in the fleet. Director of Transportation Binford Sloan said this system will make it easier to keep track of where buses are and what they need at all times. “Prior to this system, we were communicating with bus drivers using cell phones,” Sloan said. “Now we have a way to communicate between buses, from the bus garage to particular buses, or zones of buses, or to the entire fleet at one time. It’s a safer way of reaching our bus drivers and is another layer of protection for students.”
Sloan said that nearly two-thirds of school districts across the state are using similar systems. Earlier this year the school district’s bus communication infrastructure was transferred from the Nextel network to the Sprint network, and that transition provided the perfect opportunity to begin planning for the installation.
The systems will also be used to help bus drivers communicate directly with first responders in the event of an emergency situation. Bus drivers received initial training on the system during their annual in-service event, but training will be ongoing. 
Cunningham is confident that as the system successfully meets the needs of the transportation department, that opportunities to expand will become reality, as funding becomes available. “We are already exploring how we can take this system to fully encompass communication at the schools,” said Cunningham. “As funding becomes available, we could expand our channels so that principals could use the system throughout their school campuses and near the perimeters. From the district-level, we could use the system on a single frequency to communicate with all schools simultaneously.”
The school system is also utilizing real-time GPS systems on all buses, so buses can be easily tracked at all times. These systems have been in place for nearly 10 years, and since 2012, have been linked to an online transportation portal for parents.
At the opening of this school year, the Transportation department used the online portal to encourage parents to check their bus routes prior to the start of school. “The transportation portal reflects the information from our GPS system, so this year we set a deadline for students to request transportation,” said Sloan. “Bus routes were constantly changing, prior to the opening of school, so we planned for a 48-hour window for processing. In most cases, we were able to process the requests in less time than that. The system helped make for an overall smooth opening.”
Using the new GPS system, the NRMPS Transportation department has been able to stretch fuel dollars, by examining and eliminating unnecessary bus stops to maximize efficiency.
“We have roughly the same number of students being transported now as we did four or five years ago,” said Cunningham. “We are thinking differently in the operations department and we capitalize on every opportunity to maximize our efficiencies. Mr. Sloan and his staff have been the trendsetters for this, and other school districts across the state are following our lead.”
The GPS technology has allowed NRMPS to cut the bus fleet by nearly 50 buses over the past three years. Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools received the Trailblazer Award from the North Carolina Pupil Transportation Association for the GPS Systems.
Cunningham said that the GPS and two-way radios are just the beginning of the Operations team’s commitment to efficiency. “As the operations team, we play a critical role in removing as many managerial responsibilities as possible, in an effective manner, so that our principals and educators can focus on instruction and preparing our students for the future.”

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TWO NRMPS SCHOOL RECOGNIZED AS TITLE 1 REWARD SCHOOLS

Two Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools are among only 174 schools in the state that were recently named Title I Reward Schools by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Cedar Grove Elementary School and Nashville Elementary School were recognized on September 9 by the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education.
A Reward School is a Title I school that, based on the most recent data available, has been identified as being among the highest 10 percent of all Title I schools in one of two categories:

      • Highest-performing school: The school has the highest absolute performance over a number of years for all subgroups, including the all students group, on statewide assessments; or 
     • High-progress school: The school has made the most progress in improving the performance of the all students group over a number of years on the statewide assessments. 

Both Cedar Grove Elementary and Nashville Elementary were recognized with the designation of highest-performing schools. Cedar Grove Principal Brad Jones and teacher Brenda Tuten accepted the award on the school’s behalf. Nashville Elementary Principal Sharon Huneycutt and teacher Angela Joyner accepted the award on behalf of their school.
Assessment data from the 2011-12 school year and the two previous years was used to determine which Title I schools were among the top 10 percent. 
“It is truly rewarding to build upon Cedar Grove’s foundation of high student achievement and motivates the entire learning community to embrace our theme to ‘BELIEVE in The Grove!’ this year and beyond," said Jones.
“I feel proud to serve as principal for a staff that has worked so hard to ensure academic achievement for all students.” said Honeycutt. “As we move forward, we will continue to focus on driving instruction through rigorous and relevant classroom activities.”
All Reward Schools are invited to submit portfolios that identify the best practices that contributed to the school's success. Members of the Title I Distinguished Schools Advisory Council will review the portfolios and, along with on-site visits, determine one school for each category to represent North Carolina in the national Title I Distinguished Schools Program.

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DISTRICT OFFICE PERSONNEL PITCH IN DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

Hectic is probably one of the first words that come to mind at the NRMPS District Office, especially in regards to the first week of school. Parents, students and teachers alike called in with questions and it was Mrs. Lynda Wilson and a phone bank manned by a rotating group of administrative personnel who had the answers. Armed with a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a helpful attitude, they assisted our stakeholders during one of the busiest times of the year and made the week a little less stressful for others.

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NRMPS 'ROLLS ON' WITH iCONNECT ROLL-OUT - DEVICES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

More and more Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools students are receiving their devices and NRMPS officials are now optimistic that the distribution may be completed earlier than originally expected. Fifteen schools are completed as of this writing. 
 “We continue to be pleased with the iConnect deployment for the schools that are completed,” said Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. “Our Technology department, administrators and school staff have worked together to ensure that everyone receives their device in an efficient manner. We are taking great care to make this transition seamless, and we are excited to report that we have now moved ahead of our schedule.”
Baskerville Elementary, Coopers Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Spring Hope Elementary, Edwards Middle, Nash Central Middle, Red Oak Middle, Rocky Mount Middle, Nash Central High, Northern Nash High, Southern Nash High, Rocky Mount High and Nash Rocky Mount Early College High are among the schools that are finished with the deployment as of the end of the day September 18.
“As we complete more schools, we are able to streamline our processes,” said Jane Finch, Chief Technology Officer. “Issuing this number of devices was completely new for us this year, but we gain more experience with each deployment. At this point, we are much more efficient and comfortable with our routine.”
The deployment process for each school is now averaging less than a day, depending on the number of students at the school. Principals at each school have received a copy of the tentative schedule, which is adjusted daily, as needed, since some deployments may take shorter or longer than others.
Parents, students and educators are asked to remain patient as the technology and instructional teams work through the process to ensure every student receives his or her device in a timely, but precise manner.

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NRMPS STUDENTS RECEIVE GOLDEN LEAF SCHOLARSHIP

Seven NRMPS students recently received the Golden LEAF Foundation Scholarship.  The $3,000 scholarship was awarded for up to four years of study at a participating North Carolina public university or private non-profit college or university. Selection criteria included review of school and community service activities, goals and expressed intent to contribute to rural communities upon graduation from college.
The following students received the scholarship:
Lillie Culpepper - NCHS
Makayla Butler - NRMS ECHS
Emily Drake - RMHS
Jeremy Johnson - RMHS
Ashley Silber - RMHS
Selena McKoy - SNHS>
Virginia Melton - SNHS

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